Partnership

Before I start this column, please allow me to open with a warm welcome to a man, who is one of the pillars of Philippine sportswriting.  Today, my compadre Al Mendoza debuts as a sports columnist of The FREEMAN.

Pareng Al will have a once a week column coming out every Thursday.  Mabuhay ka Pare!

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I have always believed that sports development can only be achieved if there is a harmonious relationship between government and the private sector.

This is the prime reason why back in 1998 I accepted the offer to join the Cebu City Sports Commission as one of the private sector representatives.  I remain one to date and I continue to push the involvement of the community in the city’s sports programs.

The national sports leadership has also long realized this.  In fact, it was during the term of then Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Philip Ella Juico that my eyes were opened to government and private sector partnership for sports.

There are already many private sector supporters of Philippine sports and we’ve already reaped some of the fruits of such, but not yet the coveted Olympic gold.

Is it going to happen in Beijing?  I have a lot of doubt, but as I have always said, I remain hopeful.

Major sponsors have come in to support certain sports programs, but unfortunately the support given to the elite athletes rarely trickle down to the grassroots level.

Unfortunately, the need to work together with the private sector is neglected in many areas.  In fact, it continues to sadden, if not irritate me when I hear athletes or their parents complain of a lack of support from government.

Yes, there are funds for sports development, but these funds are so inadequate and most people in politics also have an inadequate knowledge on what true sports development is.

Let us go back to our dream of an Olympic gold.

It is not bad to dream, but making such dream come true can really be done if we all put our heart into it.

Some of the things that we can do would be to support sports in our little way.

There are many heart warming sports programs that I have come across in my many years in this profession of writing sports stories, but many of them fail to move past the initial stage while others struggle to holds things together.

This is the reason why I always am happy to hear about the success of FC Inter Cebu, which is actively developing football in Mactan and other parts of Cebu.

FC Inter Cebu is not really getting a lot of support yet and I hope that things would become better soon.

The dancesport program in Cebu City is probably the perfect example of private sector and government working harmoniously for sports development. 

Last weekend, two national TV programs carried their story once again and it always makes me very happy to see the fruits of the joint effort of Edward Hayco, the coaches, athletes and the city government bear fruit.

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MILESTONE: Happy birthday to my football team captain Karl de Lara Fortich, who turns a year older today.

More power!